Metal tag.



N0. 659;!99. Patented Got. 9, I900.

J. W. ANDERTON.

\ METAL TAG.

(Applicgtion filed Jan. 18, 1900.)

(No Ilodal.)

twamem b. i 6 m UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES WISE ANDERTON, OF'DAYTON, OIIIO.

METAL TAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,199, dated. October 9, 1900. Application filed January 18, 1900. Serial No. 1,959. \No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

provements in Metal Tags for Jewelers Use,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tags such as are used for marking or labeling finger-rings in jewelry stores.

Owing to the frequent handling of this article of jewelry, both by the clerks and customers, a frequent cleaning of the rings becomes necessary. This necessitates a removal of the labels or tags therefrom and an entire removal of the rings to a vessel in which they are washed. Great difficulty has been experienced owing to the impossibility of replacing the various tags upon the rings from 'which they were removed, and, furthermore,

this frequent handling of the rings soon soils the paper or parchment tags now commonly in use and requires entirely new tags to be placed thereon in order to make the stock presentable. It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a tag which does not require a removal from the rings until the article is finally sold and passes from the dealers hands. This object is attained by means of the indestructible tag hereinafter described.

Among the several advantages of the present invention the following may be mentioned: The cleaning of the rings does not require a removal of the tags owing to said tags beingof thin sheet metal and of an indestructible nature and owing to the fact that said tags are easily attached and cannot become detached by accident, as is the case with the parchment or paper tags, which frequently become torn oif, mutilated, and lost, thereby causing much trouble and annoyance.

In a detailed description of my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is an illustration of the tag ready for use. Fig. 2 illustrates the tag attached to a ring. Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the tag when the ring is in the tray. Fig 4 is a sectional view. Fig. is a perspective view of the tag swinging on the shank of the I'll] g.

The tag is stamped from thin sheet metal and consists of an oval or enlarged end 1, substantially as shown and upon which the price-mark or other marks commonly known 'to the trade are inscribed by impressing said marks into the surface of the metal. 2 is the shank extending from said enlarged end and tapering toward its extreme end, which is enlarged at 3. At the point of the tag where the shank begins is a longitudinal slot 4, one end of which slot is enlarged. 3y forming the slot 4 on the inner portion of the tag close to the shank suitable length is given to the loop formed by bending said shank, and the enlarged end of the tag may be conveniently written upon after as well as before the tag is attached.

In the application or attachment of the tag to a ring the shank is passed through the ring and is brought over the outer side thereof. The end of said shank is then given a half-turn and is passed through the slot 4, after which the said shank is given a halfturn back and is drawn upon. This causes the enlarged end 3 of said shank to move into the enlarged end of the slot, and therein the same becomes securely locked and cannot become detached by any accidental cause. When the tag is thus united to the ring, it becomesa permanent fixture until the sale of the ring requires its removal.

In cleansing the rings it only becomes necessary to transfer from the tray the entire stock, with the tags attached, which are cleaned with the rings and owing to their indestructible nature are not damaged by contact with the water. The use of such tag enables a jeweler to maintain his stock of rings in a much more presentable condition, and owing to the rigid or inflexible nature of the tag the side bearing the inscription or price-mark may be always visible. These advantages are fully appreciated by those having large stocks of finger-rings to care for and maintain in a salable condition.

Having described my 'nvention, I claim- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a dealers tag for finger-rings the same consisting of thin sheet metal having an enlarged end upon which the rice-mark and other in formation is inscribed, a tapering shank extending from said enlarged portion and terminating in an enlarged end, a longitudinal slot at the point where the shank leaves the body of the tag, said slot being enlarged at the end nearest the shank, whereby the end of the shank may be inserted therein by giving it a half-turn and may be locked therein by turning it back in the opposite direction.

2. A tag for finger-rings, the same consisting of thin sheet metal having an oval body upon which the price-mark andother data may be inscribed, a shank extending from said oblong body having two tapering sides terminating in.a head substantially of the width of the widest part of the shank; a slot in the oblong body adjacent to the point where the shank departs from said body, the portion of the slot nearest the shank being enlarged and the head of the shank being adapted to be inserted and locked in said slot by turning said head parallel with the slot and in then turning said head at right angles to the slot, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WISE ANDERTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. MERRY,

WALTER O. REED. 

